Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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578. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that strict guidelines are in place for companies when granted exploration licences to ensure that Environmental Protection Agency studies are comprehensive enough and that guidelines will prioritise public health as the main focus of the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45833/14]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy is asking this question in the context of the major research programme directed at examining the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing which was commissioned earlier this year by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I am happy to again confirm that no decisions will be taken on any application that proposes the use of hydraulic fracking in exploration drilling until the EPA Research Programme is complete and until there has been time for the Government and other interested parties to consider its findings.